Advent greed

I long ago made peace with the notion that, for most Americans, what passes for Christmas is a secular holiday and not a sacred holy day. That’s why decorated trees and holiday music appear in November, Santa brings up the rear of many Thanksgiving Day parades. And people count the 12 days of Christmas as leading up to, not following, December 25.

I still observe the four weeks of Advent, preparing for Jesus’ second coming as well as for our remembrance of Jesus’ birth. The quiet, contemplative focus on Advent appeals far more to me than the consumer frenzy that begins on Thanksgiving spills over onto Black Friday and Cyber Monday and ends with Christmas trees tossed to the curb on December 26.

Treating oneself with luxury goods, alas, is not at the heart of Advent.

As for me, I’m observing the holy days of Advent this year by reading and sipping tea, reflecting on the gift of Jesus and asking how I am called to live a life of discipleship.

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